One day after being slammed by a judge for not properly carrying out his injunction to end a native protest, OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis was firing back saying police not only prevented violence but maybe even death.

“I am not going to tell a young OPP widow that her deceased police husband gave his life to open the tracks, when we knew that in a few hours they would have been open anyway,” Lewis said in an interview.

And he was staunch in his defence of Sarnia Police Chief Phil Nelson.

“Chief Nelson in Sarnia handled the railway blockade there as he should, in my opinion,” Lewis said. “Any aggressive action there would have potentially resulted in more aggressive tactics by protestors across the province or nation. There’s a time and a place for enforcement action, and that decision has to be in the hands of the officer-in-charge on scene and not determined by the courts.”

Of course, much to the Caledonia agitation crowd’s displeasure, he is right.

But Justice David Brown, as reported by media, expressed his disappointment with police handling of the standoff at the CP line in “chemical alley” in Sarnia.

“I am shocked by such disrespect shown to this court by the Sarnia police,” he was quoted a saying Tuyesday in a Post Media column by Christie Blatchford.

He was also quoted as saying “such an approach by the OPP was most disappointing because it undercut the practical effect of the injunction order. That kind of passivity by the police leads me to doubt that a future exists in this province for the use of court injunctions in cases of public demonstrations.”

Is he right?

It’s certainly easy for a judge to say from his warm and safe chambers.

But do you want judges or politicians directing police?

“With all due respect to His Honour, when our officers marched down the road and confronted protesters in Ipperwash in 1995, it didn’t go so well,” said Lewis. “A life was lost, many lives were forever changed and the resulting inquiry combined with simple common sense, forced us to change the way the police must deal with these issues across Canada.”

In Dudley George’s memory, Lewis said, “our framework was developed and endorsed by Mr. Justice Linden and we now take a very measured and consultative approach, avoiding violent confrontation where feasible. We do take enforcement action in many cases, and do lay numerous charges against protestors.”

Would the critics been happier had there been native protester and police blood poured all over the rail tracks?

Nelson told the Toronto Sun that throughout the days of protest, his officers “were working on gaining trust” with the protesters and Aamjiwnaang Chippewas of Sarnia elders. “I have great respect for judges and court orders, but we have learned many lessons from Oka and Ipperwash,” said Nelson. “We felt the appropriate way to enforce it was do to it peacefully.”

His de-escalation approach was correct. Turns out congratulations are in order — instead of insults.

And no $100-million inquiry or funerals either.

The judge, while understandably frustrated, was naive in his big picture understanding.

“The OPP are not going to solve hundreds of years of legal issues by marching down the road and fighting with a group of First Nations people — some of which are often women, children and elderly people,” said Lewis. “A peaceful several hour blockade, as wrong as it is, pales in comparison to a full shutdown of all major highways, railways and therefore trade routes across Canada for days or weeks. Hundreds of First Nations territories, with thousands of First Nations people residing therein and in other municipalities from coast to coast do have the ability to carry that out. That doesn’t make it right by any means, but it is reality.”

Lewis said patience and negotiating is “much easier than taking aggressive action, jeopardizing, taking or losing lives, over what amounts to trespassing or mischief and an inconvenience to others.”

In the end the OPP and Sarnia police’s tactics worked. The blockade is over and, sorry to those who wanted bashed brains, but no one was hurt.

But you be the judge.

Poll

Do you think the police should have been more aggressive in dealing with the native rail blockade in Sarnia?

Cops acted properly at Sarnia rail blockade

One day after being slammed by a judge for not properly carrying out his injunction to end a native protest, OPP Commissioner Chris Lewis was firing back saying police not only prevented violence but maybe even death.

“I am not going to tell a young OPP widow that her deceased police husband gave his life to open the tracks, when we knew that in a few hours they would have been open anyway,” Lewis said in an interview.

And he was staunch in his defence of Sarnia Police Chief Phil Nelson.

“Chief Nelson in Sarnia handled the railway blockade there as he should, in my opinion,” Lewis said. “Any aggressive action there would have potentially resulted in more aggressive tactics by protestors across the province or nation. There’s a time and a place for enforcement action, and that decision has to be in the hands of the officer-in-charge on scene and not determined by the courts.”